fig3

Figure 3. ZEB2 upregulation in EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC tumor cells promoted M2 polarization and impeded M1 polarization. (A) ZEB2 expression was positively correlated with the expression of CD163 (R = 0.798), CD206 (R = 0.761), and IL10 (R=0.622) in the LUAD cohort from the TCGA database; (B) Results of Timer 2.0 online analysis of the correlations between ZEB2 expression and M1 (R = 0.341) /M2 (R = 0.739) TAM infiltration in the LUAD cohort; (C and D) qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis to verify the efficiency of ZEB2 knockdown in PC9-GR and HCC827-GR cells. Data represent results from three independent experiments; (E) qRT-PCR analysis of the expression of M1/M2-like phenotypic biomarkers of THP-1 cultured with CM from EGFR-TKI-resistant PC9 and HCC827 cells with or without ZEB2 knockdown. Data represent results from three independent experiments; (F and G) Percentages of M1/M2-like phenotype macrophages in THP-1 cells after intervention by CM from PC9-GR and HCC827-GR cells with or without ZEB2 knockdown. Average results from three independent experiments are shown. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.005, ^***P < 0.0005, ^****P < 0.0001.